Breeds
Bengal
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Exotic Shorthair
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Himalayan
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Scottish Fold
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Siamese
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Ocicat
Cats From - 1964 Michigan, result of experimental breeding, mix of Abyssianian, Siamese, and American Shorthair Markings - Distinguish by -
Burmese
Cats From - Burma Markings - Sable, Champagne, Platinum, and Blue Distinguish by - Short, close-lying coats, Round heads with large, expressive eyes and short bodies
Birman
Cats From - Burma, India Markings - seal, blue, lilac, chocolate, red, cream, and tortie Distinguish by - blue eyes, white paws, born white, longer ruff around the neck and a fluffy tail, Companion to brahmin priests
Cornish Rex/Devon Rex
Cats From - Cornwall/Devonshire England Markings - White, black, chocolate, orange, blue and cream colors. Distinguish by -Large oval shaped eyes and bat like ears.Curly Coat. Naturally arched backs.
American Shorthair (Domestic Shorthair)
Cats From - Europe Markings - Distinguish by -
Persian
Cats From - Iran (formally persia) Markings - Brachiocephallic head, .Longest fur of any cat breed. High maintenance Distinguish by - pushed in face.
Maine Coone
Cats From - Native American - State of Maine Markings - Referred to as a "gentle giant" as they are a large breed of cat with a sturdy, rugged appearance and a shaggy coat with 3 different lengths. Well furnished long tail for warmth and protection. Large tufted paws that allow them to walk on snow. Large, well tufted ears. Distinguish by - Their large size! Known for intelligence, train-ability, and being "dog-like."
Russian Blue
Cats From - Northern Russia - Archangel Isles Markings - silvery/blue dense coat Distinguish by - medium wedge shaped head, large wideset round green eyes
British Shorthair
Cats From - Rome Markings - bluish-grey, occasionally have silver tipped hairs. Can also come in tabbies, black, white, cream,and tortoiseshells. Distinguish by - large round orange or copper eyes, with a wide-awake , expressive look. Paw pads and nose are bluish-grey.
Oriental Shorthair
Cats From - originated in Europe after WWII, when Siamese cats were interbred with other breeds to replenish the dwindling gene pool. Eventually they were recognized as their own breed. Markings - over 300 different colors and patterns Distinguish by - wedge shaped head with large triangular ears, muscular athletic bodies with long lines
Abyssinian
Cats From - Ethiopia Markings - "ticked" tabby coat Distinguish by - lean muscular body, triangular head, arched neck, large ears and almond shaped eyes in gold, copper, green and hazel Used for: "Cat of the pharaohs"
Belgians
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Clydesdales
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Shires
Cold Blood Horse Breeds From - England Black, grey, or bay in color, Tall standing at 16-17 hands, feathered legs, known for their large size Used for farming and commercial trade
Friesian
Cold Blood Horse Breeds From - Netherlands in the 16th century Markings - Solid Black or Chestnut Distinguish by - Compact muscular body, long strong neck, angular head, and long flowy mane and tail
Rhodesian Ridgeback Hound
From: South Africa, Zimbabwe Markings: light-red wheaten, white on chest & toes,dark muzzle & ears Distinguish by: ridge of hair on back runs opposite direction, muscular, round eyes reflect the dogs color Used for: In packs, game hunters use when hunting lions on horseback "African Lion Hound"
Morgan Warmblood
From: United States Markings: colors bay, black, chestnut, & some pinto Distinguish:compact, strong legs, short back, expressive head, prominent large eyes, upright arched neck, defined withers,high straight tail, powerful Used for: coach horses, harness racing,& cavalry in American Civil War
Border Collie
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Bouvier des Flanders
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Shetland Sheepdog (Sheltie)
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Welsh Corgi
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Australian Shepard
Herding From - Developed on ranches in western United States Markings - Black, tan, red, or merle coats with a variety of white and tan markings on the face, chest, and legs Distinguish by - Long outer coat, energetic
German Shepard Dog
Herding From - Germany Markings - Large breed dog (up to 26" at the shoulder), longer than tall, deep bodied & well muscled while presenting smooth curves rather than angles. Strong & agile. Medium sized almond shaped eyes, moderately pointed ears which are normally carried erect. Medium length double coat with an outer layer that is straight and dense. Distinguish by - If you don't know what a GSD looks like there's something wrong here.. :) heehee
Collie
Herding From - originated in the Highlands of Scotland as a sheep dog Markings - sable, tri-color, blue Merle, or white Distinguish by - Males 24-26 inches tall, females 22-24 inches tall. They weight between50-70 lbs. Tapered wedge shaped heads with rounded muzzles. Triangular upright ears with the distal 1/4 tipped over. Coats are rough (long) or smooth (short).
Old English Sheepdog
Herding sheep/ driving cattle From - England Markings - strong, compact, square, shaggy double coat, black nose, blue eyes, brown eyes or one of each Distinguish by -colors- grey, grizzle, blue, white
Arabians
Hot Blood Horse Breeds From - Arabian Peninsula Use: used to improve other breeds by adding speed, refinement, endurance, and strong bones, had spirit and alertness needed for war, competes in endurance riding Distinguish by -finely chiseled bone structure, concave profile, arched neck, comparatively level croup, high-carried tail
Thoroughbreds
Hot Blood Horse Breeds From - England Markings - Distinguishing traits are a well-chiseled head on a long neck, high withers, deep chest, short back, good depth of hindquarters good depth of hindquarters, a lean body, and long legs. Most common colors are bay, dark bay or brown, chestnut, black, or gray Distinguish by- Mostly bred for racing Also used for show jumping, Polo, fox hunting and dressage(training). Classified among the "hot-blooded" breeds, which are animals bred for agility, speed and are considered spirited and bold
Beagle
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Dachshund
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Basenji
Hounds From - Africa Markings - Chestnut red, black, tricolor, or brindle (black stripes on a background of chestnut red) with white feet, chest or tail tip. Distinguish by -Small, lightly built breed, Wrinkled forehead, Tightly curled tail, Short haired hunting dog from Africa, Short backed with long legs in comparison to body
Irish Wolfhound
Hounds From - Ireland Markings - Distinguish by - Rough coat, tallest of all dogs
Afghan Hound
Hounds From - Middle East Markings - Distinguish by - long hair, long ears, curled tail
Norwegian Elkhound
Hounds From - Norway Hunter, herder, defender, companion Markings - medium sized, broad head, prick ears, curled tail Mostly silver/grey, white, black, can also be brown, red Distinguish by - 6000 yrs old, companion to the vikings
Greyhound
Hounds From - one of most ancient breeds, can be traced back to almost every country and every continent on the globe Distinguish by - narrow aerodynamic skull, inverted S shaped chest, tightly tucked waist known for - build and size (built for speed)
Basset Hound
Hounds Origin: France It is not really clear if the short legs came from selective breeding or a genetic mutation. Uses: Used for hunting because they have an excellent nose Appearance: long body, short legs, long ears, large heads, sunken eyes
Manx
Naturally occurring genetic mutation causes tailessness From: the Isle of Man Many different colors and patterns Distinguish by no tail
Bichon Frise
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Boston Terrier
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Chinese Sharpei
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Chow Chow
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Keeshond
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Lhaso Apso
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Poodle
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Bulldog
Non-sporting Breeds From - Great Britain Markings - Variety of colors like fawn, brindle, red and white etc. Distinguish by -Stalky head and powerful, wide shoulders. Undershot jaw and loose, wrinkly skin. They are brachiocephalic. Heavy bodies short little legs
Percherons
Origin The Huisne River Valley in France Uses/Tasks Originally bred as a war horse, but commonly used now for draft work such as pulling heavy loads, and even pull light loads such as carriages because of their graceful gait Physical Description Percherons are usually black or grey, but there are also sorrels, bays, roans, etc. Many have white markings on the head and feet, but excessive white is undesirable. They range in height from 15 to 19 hands and can weigh between 1900-2600 lbs. They have bulky muscles in the lower thighs used for power, a broad full forehead and straight face, and they are known for their clean action and quality conformation of the feet and legs.
Dalmatian
Origin Yugoslavia from the ancient times Uses/Tasks Were used for carriage dogs, but now used for a companion dog, especially for firehouses Physical Description White short, shiny coat with black or brown spotted markings, they have an athletic build with strong bones and a square portioned body and a lean and muscular build
Coonhound
Origin: United States of America Uses/Tasks: Hunting, use there strong sense of smell to track down animals, and their very vocal howl to let the hunters know they are on a trail Physical Description: Moderate build, body is longer than is tall, long droopy ears, and short but dense hair coat that comes in a variety of colors Unique Characteristics: There are many breeds of coonhounds such as the blue tick, black & tan, redbone, treeing walker, American English, and plott hound
Norwegian Fjord Pony
Ponies From - Norway Markings - Dun coat, typically tan or gold but can be other colors Distinguish by -Compact muscular body. Straight or "Dished" face. Small ears, large eyes. Mane is usually roached or sand and STANDS ERECT. Lighter hair on outside of mane & tail with darker hair in the middle-dramatic looking. Used for-farm horse, work on mountainous terrains, plowing fields and pulling timber
Shetland Pony
Ponies From - Shetland Islands Markings - black to dark brown, but other colors are common too Distinguish by - full bodies, short muscular legs , thick hair, substantial mane and tail 9.3-10.2 hands tall. Strongest equid relative to size.
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
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Cocker Spaniel
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German Shorthair Pointer
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Golden Retriever
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Labrador Retriever
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Brittany Spaniel
Sporting Breeds From - Brittany, France Markings - large spotted coat Distinguish by - Can be tailless, or have four inch tail, feathering on legs, medium size
English Springer Spaniel
Sporting Breeds From - England Markings - Distinguish by - Feathering on legs, ears, chest, and abdomen
English Setter
Sporting Breeds From - England Markings -"Belton"- speckled patterns of the coat- Blue, Blue and Tan (Tri-color), Lemon, Liver, Orange Distinguish by -Medium breed, about 25 inches at shoulder, Graceful neck with long, oval-shaped ,Flat-coated with feathering
Irish Setter
Sporting Breeds From - Ireland Used for: bird hunting Distinguish by - Large breed dog with RED/Mahogany hair, shorter on the body but feathers on ears, stomach, tail and legs
Gordon Setter
Sporting Breeds From - Scotland 1800's Uses: bird hunting, excellent at pointing Distinguish by - Black coat with tan on face and legs, curly feathering on legs, stomach, ears, and tail
Fox Terrier
Terrier Breeds From - Markings - Distinguish by -
Airedale Terrier
Terrier Breeds From - Airvalley of Yorkshire England Markings - Tan with the back and upper sides black. Distinguish by - "King of Terroirs" because the largest of the terroirs. Non shedding wiry double coat.
American Staffordshire Terrier
Terrier Breeds From - England Markings - Distinguish by - Cropped or uncropped ears
Bull Terrier
Terrier Breeds From - England Markings - Coat is normally white but comes in other colors Distinguish by -"Egg" shaped head, triangular eyes, large prick ears. Moderate size, muscular build. Used for- Dog fighting
Miniature Schnauzer
Terrier Breeds From - Germany Markings - Black, black and silver, salt and pepper. Distinguish by -Long beard and bushy eyebrows. Have rectangular muzzle and a moustache.
West Highland Terrier
Terrier Breeds From - Poltalloch, Scotland Markings - Small breed of dog (stands 10-11 inches at the shoulder). Compact body with a medium length carrot shaped tail, dark, round eyes, small ears carried erect. All white double coat with the outer being straight & hard, longer under belly and on legs and the under coat being soft and dense. Distinguish by - Common show appearance is to have a rounded face resembling somewhat of a dish. Described as entertaining, loyal, happy, and smart. "Possessed of no small amount of self esteem"
Cairn Terrier
Terrier Breeds From - Scotland Markings - Cream, Wheaten, Red, Gray or nearly black. Distinguish by -Very weather resistant harsh outer coat with soft under coat. Assertive but not aggressive behavior.
Scottish Terrier
Terrier Breeds From - Scotland Markings - small, compact, short-legged, sturdily-built dog. His head is long in proportion to his size. He has a hard, wiry, weather-resistant coat and a thick-set, and short, heavy legs. Distinguish by -Originally bred for hunting and following prey to ground, the Scottish Terrier is designed to dig.
Chihuahua
Toy Breeds From - Markings - Distinguish by -
Pug
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Shih Tsu
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Pekingese
Toy Breeds From - China Markings - stocky, body that is slightly longer than it is tall. The head is large in proportion to the rest of the body, with the top of the head being massive, broad and flat. The front of the face is flat. The muzzle is broad and flat, thicker below the eyes, separating the upper and lower areas of the face. Teeth meet in an under bite with a broad jaw bone. The neck is short and thick. The legs are short, thick and heavy-boned. The tail is high-set, slightly arched and carried over the back. The outer coat is long and coarse in texture with profuse feathering. The undercoat is soft and thick. The coat comes in all colors, sometimes with a black mask Distinguish by -Originally bred for religious purposes, known as the "Lion Dog".
Yorkshire Terrier
Toy Breeds From - England Markings - small, toy-sized dog. The small head is rather flat on the top, with a medium-sized muzzle. The erect ears are V-shaped. The tail is customarily docked to a medium length and carried somewhat higher than the back. The long, glossy coat is fine and silky and falls straight down on either side. The coat comes in a steel blue and tan color. The body and tail are blue and the rest of the dog is tan. Puppies are brown, black and tan. Distinguish by -Originally bred for the purpose of catching rats in mines, they were also used for hunting to borrow underground after badgers and foxes.
Pomeranian
Toy Breeds From - Pomerania - descedant of Spitz sled dogs from Iceland and Lapland Markings - Variations of white, tan, red, and black Distinguish by - fox-like face, small and compact, large plumed tail that is high set
Italian Greyhound
Toy Breeds From - Turkey/Greece Markings - Distinguish by - long slender neck, folded ears, short glossy coat
Papillion
Toy Breeds From - Western Europe (Spain, France) Markings - Fluffy, white coat with patches of any color Distinguish by - Small breed,fine-bonded, light and dainty, Butterfly-like ears
Mustang
Warm Blood Horse Breeds Characteristics vary due to mixed breeding with draft horses and quarter horses Used by Native Americans and Pioneers Good Stanima
Buckskin
Warm Blood Horse Breeds From - Markings - Distinguish by -
Paint
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Palomino
Warm Blood Horse Breeds From - Markings - Distinguish by -
Tennessee Walking Horse
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Dutch Warmblood
Warm Blood Horse Breeds From - Holland Markings - Long-legged, black, brown, grey, chestnut, or Bay, White marking common, expressive head Distinguish by - Uses: competitions and recreation
Appaloosa
Warm Blood Horse Breeds From - Pacific Northwest Markings - any color, with speckles or flecks frequently starting over the rump and spreading forward in a "blanket" Distinguish by - can be a solid color with white speckles, or white with other colored speckles
Quarterhorse
Warm Blood Horse Breeds From - United States Markings - compact with a short body and head, defined by their heavily muscled body, powerful shoulders and hindquarters, and strong, sturdy legs. Their heads are finely chiseled and of a flat profile with a wide forehead. They sometimes have white markings on the face and below the knees. These markings may be of a variety of shapes, including stockings, stars, strips, and blazes. However, no American Quarter Horse may have white spots or patches anywhere other than the face or cannon. Distinguish by -Originally bred for performance.
Mule
Warm Blood Horse Breeds From - anywhere Markings - any Distinguish by -VERY long ears, sparse tail, often a mousy shade of brown or grey, but can be any color. Can be any size, depending on the parents. Offspring of a horse and a donkey. STERILE!
Saddlebred
Warm Blood Horse Breeds From - originally from British Isles, was used in Revolutionary & civil wars, today considered the ultimate show horse Markings - 15-16 hands, 1000-1200 #, can be chestnut, bay, brown & black, grey, roan, palomino or pinto Distinguish by -long elegant neck
Akita
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Boxer
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Bullmastiff
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Malamute
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Samoyed
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St. Bernard
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Great Pyrenees
Working Breeds From - Markings - white Distinguish by -long, fluffy coat, square muzzle, folded ears. Large breed, 120 lbs avg.
Great Dane
Working Breeds From - Germany, written description in Chinese literature in 1121 BC Markings - Distinguish by - Short coat, ears can be folded or cropped, very tall, rectangular head
Newfoundland
Working Breeds From - Newfoundland - brought over by european fisherman, descendant of Great Pyrenees Markings - Black and Tan are most common, with white markings Distinguish by - BIGGGGG dog, heavy set, soft expression, broad head, dense wooly coat
Siberian Huskey
Working Breeds From - Northeast Asia Medium sized, erect ears, compact body, black and white thick furred double coat Used as a sled dog
